Celiac Disease Genetic Testing

Celiac disease genetic testing can accurately confirm whether you have a genetic predisposition to celiac disease. Around 83% of celiac disease sufferers go undiagnosed. Could you be one of them? Celiac disease is a serious genetic autoimmune disorder and could lead to long-term complications that could adversely affect your life.

About This Test

Our Celiac disease genetic test will confirm whether you carry the genes involved in celiac disease and will effectively rule out the disease with an accuracy of 99%. The test is offered at R2959 and results are ready in 1-2 weeks from the receipt of samples at the laboratory.

Why is a celiac disease genetic test the better option?

If you suspect you have Celiac disease you may have considered your options in terms of the screening and diagnostic tests available. Genetic testing for Celiac disease is a screening test that offers several advantages:

Many clients taking this test follow a gluten-free diet but may not necessarily be celiac – in this case, the symptoms associated with celiac disease are not caused by eating gluten and following a gluten free diet is useless.

If you have a first degree relative who is celiac you are at a higher risk of developing the disease due to the fact the disease can be inherited. You have a 5-10% chance of inheriting the gene if you have a family member who has celiac disease. Only a genetic test such as ours can confirm whether you have the genes implicated in celiac disease.

A common test for celiac disease is antibody blood testing. If you are celiac, this test can only be used if you are actually eating food containing gluten. A genetic test for celiac disease can be carried out at any time, at any age and irrespective of the type of diet you are on.

Celiac disease genetic testing does not require a blood draw. Blood draws can be uncomfortable for some besides requiring a phlebotomist. Our celiac disease test is done by means of the mouth swabs you find inside our kit. The self-sampling procedure just requires a few simple steps and precautions.

Does this celiac test diagnose celiac disease?

No, a celiac genetic test is not a diagnostic test. Nor are the serology tests available that measure the levels of certain antibodies in the blood which are normally produced in response to gluten. Even if results of a genetic test confirm you carry the genes which cause celiac disease, it does not mean you suffer from the illness or that you will ever develop it. However, if you do not carry the genes, you can have your mind at rest that you will not develop celiac disease.

Diagnosing celiac disease usually requires a biopsy which will establish the extent of the damage to the intestinal walls and whether the type of damage observed attributable to celiac disease.

Celiac genes

The HLA DQ2 and DQ8 are the 2 genes which we most often observe in people with celiac disease. These 2 genes are the most common although not the only potential gene involved in celiac disease. HLA stands for Human Leukocyte Antigen. HLA produces a protein which holds any foreign material (such as small foreign particles, viruses or bacteria) on the surface of the cell. In the case of individuals carrying defective HLA genes, the body is unable to correctly distinguish gluten from HLA which results in an auto-immune reaction.

How serious is celiac disease?

The effects of celiac disease will vary depending on:

How long you have had celiac disease.

Your age.

How long you have been exposed to gluten (sometimes unknowingly through hidden gluten in foods).

There is no treatment for celiac disease – If you are celiac, you will have to follow a gluten-free diet to a T. There is no way of preventing the damage caused to the mucosa of the small intestine other than by avoiding gluten. Careful monitoring by a health care provider will be required once you being your gluten-free diet. Please read our Health and Clinical Terms & Conditions carefully and make sure you understand them before ordering this test.

Other tests: Lactose Intolerance DNA Test

Do you experience discomfort after consuming dairy products such as milk or ice cream? If so, then you might be interested in our lactose intolerance test. This particular test establishes whether you carry a certain gene mutation which makes you unable to produce the enzyme required to digest lactose. Read more about our Lactose Intolerance DNA Test.

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